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The
Christchurch Civic Creche Case |
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Convicted child abuser
Peter Ellis will spend his 40th birthday today celebrating a legal milestone
and the glimmer of freedom. Ellis's mother, Lesley
Ellis, and his lawyer, Judith Ablett-Kerr, met Ellis in Paparua Prison on
Saturday to discuss the implications of the decision of the Governor-General,
Sir Michael Hardie Boys, on Friday to refer his convictions back to the Court
of Appeal. The appeal may be heard within three months. Mrs Ellis said last
night that no real decisions were made on Saturday. However, Mrs
Ablett-Kerr would ring Ellis today to discuss the possibility of a bail
application, she said. ``Peter is pretty
excited; it's another big step in your life really, after being the best part
of five years in jail.'' Mrs Ellis said although
she could not visit her son in Paparua Prison today, his 40th birthday would
be a much happier event than his 34th. Six years ago today Ellis was arrested
and charged with 25 counts of sexually abusing children under his care at the
Christchurch Civic Creche. He was eventually convicted of 13 charges and
jailed for 10 years. So far, he has served
almost five years. ``The appeal itself
could be as far away as October. There's a tremendous amount of paperwork to
get through, '' Mrs Ellis said. She said Mrs
Ablett-Kerr clearly wanted to make a good job of the appeal. Ellis has maintained
his innocence throughout. Last month he refused to appear at a parole
hearing, saying acceptance of the conditions of parole would include an
admission of guilt. Mrs Ablett-Kerr said
there had been fewer than 10 cases in Yesterday, a former
police commander and New Zealand First MP Rana Waitai said he was
disappointed Ellis was not pardoned. Mr Waitai visited Ellis last year and
reviewed the case notes. His instinctive belief was that Ellis was innocent. ``My view about this
man's innocence have not changed. ``The more I know about
the case, the more I am convinced that there has been a grave injustice dealt
to Peter Ellis,'' he said. Police have been
holding an inquiry into investigations that led to Ellis's conviction,
including into the conduct of the officer in charge of the investigation,
Colin Eade. Mr Eade was alleged by
TV3's 20/20 programme to have had psychiatric problems, and sexual
relationships with the mothers of two children who complained they were
abused by Ellis. It was also claimed he
made sexual advances to the mother of another complainant. Mr
Eade has said that at no time during the inquiry was he involved in a
relationship with anyone associated with the case. |
